Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 4, 2025
06:54
Evaluation of the Interplay Between the Complement Protein C1q and Hyaluronic Acid in Promoting Cell Adhesion
Published on: June 15, 2019
6.2K
Hyaluronic acid-lipid binding
Anthony Ewurum1, Abhishek Ashok Alur2, Margaret Glenn2
1Department of Chemistry, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40296, USA.
BMC Chemistry
|May 28, 2021
Summary
Hyaluronic acid (HA) binds to various phospholipids (PL), with phosphatidyl choline and sphingomyelin showing stronger interactions. These HA-PL binding interactions are crucial for developing effective dry eye therapies and skincare products.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Materials Science
Background:
- Phospholipid-hyaluronic acid (HA) interactions are significant in biological contexts like aging, dry eye disease, skincare, and joint lubrication.
- While phosphatidyl choline-HA interactions are understood, knowledge gaps exist regarding other major lipids in bodily fluids.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the binding affinities of various phospholipids (PL) with hyaluronic acid (HA).
- To elucidate the role of different lipid components in HA interactions for potential therapeutic applications.
Main Methods:
- Hyaluronic acid (1600 kDa) was mixed with diverse lipids in D2O at varying concentrations.
- Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was employed to quantify HA-PL binding by measuring the decrease in HA proton resonance intensity.
Main Results:
- Lipid binding affinity to HA varied, with cholesterol showing weak binding, followed by monoglyceride and palmitoyl palmitate, and then phosphatidyl choline, phosphatidic acid, and sphingomyelin.
- A maximum of 14±1 µmoles of PL bound to HA, suggesting a 1:1 molar ratio with the HA dimer.
- Monoglyceride and palmitoyl palmitate required higher concentrations (2-3x) to achieve 100% HA binding compared to other phospholipids.
Conclusions:
- At physiological concentrations, HA and phospholipids like phosphatidyl choline and sphingomyelin result in minimal binding (4% of hydrophobic hydrogens).
- HA-PL binding interactions hold promise for therapeutic eye drops to treat dry eye and manage vitreous humor (VH) lipid content.
- Understanding HA-lipid interactions is vital for optimizing topical skincare products and therapeutic interventions, with both head group and hydrocarbon chain structures playing a role.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Glycosaminoglycans
5.7K
Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), also known as mucopolysaccharides, are long and linear polymers comprising of specific repeating disaccharides - the amino sugar that can be N-acetylglucosamine or N-acetylgalactosamine, and a uronic acid that is usually glucuronic acid or iduronic acid.
GAGS are found in the extracellular matrix of vertebrates, invertebrates, and bacteria. Due to their polar nature they attract water, and serve as excellent lubricants or shock absorbers in an animal body.
Hyaluronic...
GAGS are found in the extracellular matrix of vertebrates, invertebrates, and bacteria. Due to their polar nature they attract water, and serve as excellent lubricants or shock absorbers in an animal body.
Hyaluronic...
5.7K
01:30Drug Binding to Blood Components
324
When drugs enter systemic circulation, they interact with various components of the blood, including proteins such as human serum albumin (HSA), α1-acid glycoprotein (AAG), lipoproteins, globulins, and red blood cells (RBCs).
HSA is the most abundant plasma protein and is vital in drug binding. It contains distinct drug-binding sites, with different drugs exhibiting affinity for specific sites. There are three main drug-binding domains for HSA: sites I, II, and III. These domains are...
HSA is the most abundant plasma protein and is vital in drug binding. It contains distinct drug-binding sites, with different drugs exhibiting affinity for specific sites. There are three main drug-binding domains for HSA: sites I, II, and III. These domains are...
324
01:32Lipids as Anchors
6.5K
In the plasma membrane, the lipids forming the bilayer can also act as an anchor to tether proteins to the membrane. The three main types of lipid anchors found in eukaryotes are – prenyl groups, fatty acyl groups, and glycosylphosphatidylinositol or GPI groups. Prenyl and fatty acyl groups act as anchors on the cytosolic surface of the membrane, whereas GPI anchors proteins on the extracellular side.
The carboxy-terminal of most of the prenylated proteins, such as Ras proteins, contains...
The carboxy-terminal of most of the prenylated proteins, such as Ras proteins, contains...
6.5K
01:24Lipid Absorption
1.9K
Dietary triglycerides from chyme in the duodenum are mixed with bile salts produced by the liver to emulsify fats. As a result, large droplets are broken down into smaller ones, increasing the surface area for enzymatic action. Once emulsified, pancreatic lipases hydrolyze the triglycerides into free fatty acids and monoglycerides.
These breakdown products bind with bile salts and lecithin to form micelles, which quickly pass between microvilli to come in close contact with the apical...
These breakdown products bind with bile salts and lecithin to form micelles, which quickly pass between microvilli to come in close contact with the apical...
1.9K
01:35Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer
8.8K
Biological membranes show uneven distribution of different types of lipids in the inner and outer layers, resulting in transverse asymmetric membranes. The treatment of the erythrocyte membrane with the enzyme phospholipase confirmed the asymmetric nature of the lipid bilayer. The enzyme hydrolyzes lipids into fatty acids and hydrophilic groups. The phospholipase acts only on the outer layer of the membrane, while the inner layer remains intact. The phospholipase treatment resulted in 80%...
8.8K
02:40Ligand Binding Sites
14.3K
Proteins are dynamic macromolecules that carry out a wide variety of essential processes; however, the activities of most proteins depend on their interactions with other molecules or ions, known as ligands.
Protein-ligand interactions are quite specific; even though numerous potential ligands surround a cellular protein at any given time, only a particular ligand can bind to that protein. Moreover, a ligand binds only to a dedicated area on the surface of the protein, known as the...
Protein-ligand interactions are quite specific; even though numerous potential ligands surround a cellular protein at any given time, only a particular ligand can bind to that protein. Moreover, a ligand binds only to a dedicated area on the surface of the protein, known as the...
14.3K